The home for next month’s big fight between Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson is official – and it is a fitting location.
Lopez vs. Stevenson will headline a card on January 31 at Madison Square Garden, the storied venue in the New York City borough of Manhattan that is often described as the Mecca of Boxing.
The arena has an ideal location as well as history. Lopez is from across the East River in the city’s borough of Brooklyn. Stevenson was born nearby in the other direction, hailing from Newark, New Jersey.
Lopez, 28, is the current lineal and WBO junior welterweight champion and was previously the lineal champion at 135lbs. He is 22-1 (13 KOs) and will be attempting the fourth defense of the throne he seized from Josh Taylor in 2023. Since then, Lopez has won decisions over Jamaine Ortiz, Steve Claggett and Arnold Barboza.
Stevenson, who is also 28, is the WBC champion at lightweight, his third weight class as a titleholder after reigns at 126 and 130lbs. He is 24-0 (11 KOs) and has made three defenses since winning the vacant title against Edwin De Los Santos in 2023. Stevenson outpointed Artem Harutyunyan, stopped late replacement Josh Padley, and is coming off an excellent decision win over top contender William Zepeda.
Lopez vs. Stevenson will stream on DAZN. The rest of the card has not yet been announced.
David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.
